ETHNIC GROUPS

The indigenous African population in Swaziland constitutes 97% of the
total populace and comprises more than 70 clans, of which the Nkosi
Dlamini, the royal clan, is dominant. Europeans make up the remaining
3%.

LANGUAGES

English and Siswati, which is spoken by almost all Swazi, are the
official languages. Government business is conducted in English.

ARMED FORCES

The Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force has fewer than 3,000 personnel and
functions as a border patrol and an internal security force. A royal
guard battalion was formed in 1982. Military expenditures for
2001–02 were $20 million or 4.8% of GDP.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Swaziland joined the UN on 24 September 1968 and participates in ECA and
all the nonregional specialized agencies except IAEA, IMO, WIPO, and
UNIDO. The country also belongs to the African Development Bank,
Commonwealth of Nations, G-77, and OAU. Swaziland is a signatory to the
Lomé Convention and the Law of the Sea and is a member of the
WTO.

FISHING

By 1982, several commercial fish farms had been established and some
Rural Development Areas had fish ponds. Annual production was estimated
at 70 tons in 2000.

INSURANCE

The Swaziland Royal Insurance Corp., 41% state owned, began operating in
1974. It is majority-owned by South African insurance and reinsurance
companies. The Swaziland National Provident Fund is a mandatory savings
institution for employees.

CUSTOMS AND DUTIES

Swaziland belongs to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) with
South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, and Namibia. South Africa levies and
collects most of the customs, sales, and excise duties for the five
member states, paying a share of the revenues to the other four. Local
import duties are applied to wines, spirits, and beer. Swaziland also
signed a double taxation agreement with the United States in 2000.

FAMOUS SWAZI

Sobhuza II (1899–1982) was king, or ngwenyama, of the Swazi
nation from 1921 until his death. Mswati III (b.1968) became king in
1986.